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“Fine, dare.”
Breonna walked over to her desk, picking up a purple covered laptop. “I dare you to go on cam.”
I choked. The sip of water making its way down my throat went down the wrong tube once her words seeped into my ears. “No, I can’t… why would—”
“Fine, suit yourself. But it’s Thursday night, and it would be an easy $400 for an hour. But, don’t take my word for it.”
Torn between being shocked and entertaining the idea, I glanced at Amber, who was wide-eyed with tense shoulders and a mouthful of candy. Breonna plucked at her cuticles with pierced lips, impatiently humming under her breath as she waited for me to speak. I’ve always known she was a cam girl or whatever they called themselves, but I never asked her much about it. I honestly thought she did it just to spite her dad, who divorced her mom two years ago for some woman he met on a business trip.
“Any day now.”
I leaned my head back and stared at her star-dotted ceiling. The whole idea made me feel uneasy, but I could use the money. Hell, I needed the money at this point.
I sat up and untucked my legs from behind me, leaning back on my ankles. “Okay, what do I need to do.”
Amber pressed her hands to her cheeks, “Pearl, you can’t. What if—”
“Shut it, Miss Catholic whore,” Breonna snapped, cutting off Amber. “It’s easy, nothing to worry about.”
Guilt rose in me like a high tide as Breonna logged into her account. I knew my dad would kill me if he found out, but I needed the money. Badly.
A soft chime snapped me out of my cloud of thoughts, and Breonna shoved her computer in my direction.
I let my ass sink between my legs and eyed the blinking green button that said START ROOM. “I’m not showing my face.”
“You have to or you won’t make any money. These guys like to see who they are jerking off to. Now take off your top.”
Swallowing what little dignity I had left, I pulled my top above my head, tossed my shirt aside, and pressed the green button.
ConstructionGuy4478
“So I heard you snagged the big job in Stonebridge that everyone put bids in for. How did you do it?” The man chuckled as he made himself comfortable next to me.
I hated it. I hated attending these stupid and long, drawn-out business dinners. I ignored his small talk as I finished my drink. He had a little twinkle in his eye, a flicker of light, hoping that I would entertain his annoyance with meaningless industry banter. I relayed a side smile and set a fifty-dollar bill on the bar before swiveling my stool around and getting up. The man’s eyes followed me, and then his brow rose. Unbeknownst to me, there was a 5’7 wave of red-hot trouble coming my way, and I didn’t see it until she was standing in front of me.
“Jude…” My ex-wife’s words trailed off, and I scratched my brow.
“That’s my name. Do me a favor, and don’t wear it out.” I brushed past the woman and headed toward the double French glass doors.
The sound of her heels tight on my tail as she sauntered after me was nauseating, along with the smell of her perfume. Hate was a strong word, and I didn’t use it lightly, but if anyone was treading close to that four-letter word, it was the woman currently breathing down my neck.
“You really are insufferable.” She flipped her blonde locks over her shoulder and gulped the rest of her martini.
I let out a breath and punched the code into my phone. “Well, I guess that’s what happens to people who’ve been dragged through a pile of shit.” I looked her up and down, ensuring my features showed zero emotion, and then pressed the call button. “Anything else,” I said as I lifted the phone to my ear.
She rolled her eyes and took a step back. “Have a good night and see you in court.”
My car pulled up, and I raised a hand to prevent my driver from getting out. Sliding into the back, I rested my head against the headrest and loosed the top button of my dress shirt.
Taking a glance at my watch, it was a little past 9 p.m., and the ride back to Stonebridge would take about 2 hours. Enough time for me to let my mind wander and forget about the shit show that was my life. I trailed a thumb across my bottom lip and stared into the darkness. I was Jude Warner, one of the leading and most recognizable names in commercial construction to the outside world. Everyone envied me, while others wished they were me.
I had it all, yet I had nothing. Long hours, an empty house, and women with dollar signs in their eyes followed me like a plague. My phone vibrated, taking me out of my dreary haze. One look at the name, and I declined it. I haven’t talked to my brother in over six years, and I didn’t plan on starting now. The car slowed as it exited the highway, and the hotel's lights appeared around the corner. I had the privilege of traveling worldwide, yet a few days ago was the first time I heard of this town.
* * *
Once my driverpulled into the hotel circle I climbed out of the car and wished him a goodnight. Stonebridge wasn’t my home, but it would be for the next month or so as I over saw a new construction project. The bustling atmosphere of a five-star hotel was better than the silence that now occupied the halls in my own home. I walked through the lobby with heavy limbs and warm blood and slammed my fist into the gold elevator button.
The elevator doors peeled back in one swift motion, and I walked the short distance to my suite. I needed two things: Another stiff drink and a release. Obviously, one was easier to come by than the other. Relationships and women, in general, were the last thing on my mind, and I made sure to keep it that way. I experienced a broken heart once and had no intentions of repeating the process. Business and money were the only two things worth holding my attention long term.
